Adjustable construction joint strips



Oct. 1, 1968 G. REDEY 4 3,403,484

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United States Patent 3,403,484 ADJUSTABLE CONSTRUCTION JOINT STRII'S George Redey, 185 Demarest Ave., Englewood, NJ. 07631 Filed Sept. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 581,234 1 Claim. (Cl. 52-98) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An elongated strip of flexible plastic material for use in forming blocks for building units. The strip has an elongated body with a smooth surface and with projections on the other surface thereof. The body is flexible and may be cut into blocks, the blocks adapted to be juxtaposed with the projections intermeshing. Concrete is poured into the interstices between the intermeshing projections.

This invention relates generally to building material and more particularly to an elongated strip of flexible material such as plastic, aluminum, metal and the like adapted to be cut at various intervals therealong to form joint blocks for building walls, toys and covers for books, etc.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an elongated flexible strip of plastic and the like with projecting teeth on one surface thereof whereby lengths may be cut therefrom and disposed in opposed juxtaposed position to form a building unit adapted to receive a filler of cement, plastic or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elongated flexible strip of plastic and the like with projecting teeth on one surface thereof whereby lengths thereof may be cut therefrom to provide bodies of toys.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elongated flexible strip of plastic and the like with projecting teeth on one surface thereof whereby lengths thereof may be cut therefrom to provide covers for books.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of a strip of material embodying the invention, parts being shown broken away, the material being shown in the process of being cut.

FIG. 2 is a top plan perspective view of a length cut from the strip of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fragment of a wall structure formed with blocks formed from the strip of FIG. 1, cement being shown poured between the blocks.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a number of blocks cut from the strip of FIG. 1 and a measuring tool.

FIG. 6 is an edge view of a wall partly formed from blocks cut from the strip of FIG. 1 showing a tool for measuring the thickness of the wall, in operative position.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a pair of stacks of modified form of blocks.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the corner of a wall structure formed with the blocks shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a strip of material such as shown in FIG. 1 in curved formation.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fragment of a room with a wall structure formed with the curved strips of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an edge view of a fragment of a building unit formed with lengths of strip embodying a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of fragment of a wall structure embodying another modified form of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of a strip of material embodying still another modified form of the invention shown in rolled formation.

FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of a kit including toy building blocks made from a strip of material embodying a further modified form of the invention, the cover of the kit being shown removed and toy blocks being shown scattered on a supporting surface.

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic edge view of a wall structure formed from lengths of a strip of material embodying yet another modified form of the invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a strip of material embodying a still further modified form of the invention, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a fragment of a wall structure with blocks formed from the strip of material shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of a fragment of the strip of material shown in FIG. 16, on a reduced scale, showing the manner of tearing the strip down the center.

FIG. 19 is a top perspective view showing lengths of the strip used as book covers.

Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawings, in FIG. 1 an elongated rectangular strip of material embodying the invention is shown and designated generally at 10. The strip 10 is formed of plastic, aluminum, metal or other suitable material. The strip has a plain flat smooth top surface 12 as viewed in FIG. 1. The bottom surface 14 of the strip is formed with a plurality of pointed projections in the form of teeth 16 closely spaced over the whole area of the surface. The long edges 18 and end edges 20 of the strip are straight.

The strip 10 is adapted to be cut with a cutting knife 22 for the purpose of forming lengths or blocks. A block 24 cut from the strip 10 is shown in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 3 a wall structure 26 formed from blocks 24 cut from the strip 10 is shown. In building the wall structure 26, the blocks 24 are positioned back to back in opposed relation as shown in FIG. 4, with the teeth 16 of the blocks being intermeshed with each other. A pair of blocks in opposed intermeshing relation constitute a building unit. The building units are mounted edgewise on top of each other with the joints 28 in the one tier offset from the joints 28 in the other tier as shown in FIG. 3. The units may be of various lengths so that the joints 30 at the corners are in alignment as shown in FIG. 3. When a tier of units is placed end to end, loose cement 32 is poured downwardly through the top of the unit into and between the intermeshing teeth 16 and the cement permitted to harden. Other cementitious material, such as plastic, foam grout and the like may be used in place of cement.

The lengths or blocks 24 when in meshing relation are readily moved toward or away from each other in order to adjust the thickness of the wall structure. The desired thickness may readily be obtained by means of a measuring instrument 34 shown in FIG. 5 and in operative meshing position in FIG. 6. The instrument comprises an elongated handle 36 with transverse plate body 38 integral with one end of the handle. An integral leg 40 extends from one side of the body. Another leg 42, separate from the body, has a lateral extension, 44, formed with an elongated closed slot 46. A pair of bolts 48 is fixed in the transverse plate body 38 and projects through the slot 46. Leg 42 may be moved toward or away from the leg 40 and secured in adjusted position by Wing nuts 50 on the bolts 48. In use, the measuring instrument is oriented to the desired thickness of wall structure desired and placed over the top of the topmost unit whereupon the lengths or blocks 24 are, moved away from each other until they engage the legs of the instrument for the desired thickness.

The invention contemplates that colored lengths or blocks 24 may be used in building a Wall structure 26' as shown in FIG. 8. The top tier and bottom tier of building units are shown composed of lengths 24' colored green and the intermediate tier is shown composed of lengths 24" colored red. Any desired color length may be used. In FIG. 7, a stack of lengths 26 colored green is shown and a stack of lengths 26" colored red is shown.

In FIG. 9, a straight strip of material is shown in dash lines and shown in curved bent formation in full lines. The curved strips or lengths thereof may be used to build a wall structure such as the wall structure 26a shown in FIG. 10 having curved corners 54.

FIG. 11 illustrates another modified form of building unit including a pair of opposed lengths or blocks 240, the teeth 16a of which lengths or blocks are of irregular crooked shape meshing with each other. When cement is poured into and through the teeth 16a a firmer joint between the lengths is formed.

In the modified form of wall structure 26x shown in FIG. 12, a frame 55 of criss-crossed wires 56 and 58 is interposed between the building units with the teeth 16x of the blocks 24x extending through the spaces between the wires. The frame reinforces the wall structure joints.

In FIG. 13, another modified form of strip 100a of material is shown. This form differs from the strip 10 of FIG. 1 in that the body 12aa of the strip is formed with criss-cross perforated or tear lines 60 and 62 making the strip more flexible and permitting the strip to be rolled into roll formation. The material of the strip can be readily torn along the lines 60 and 62 to form lengths or blocks 26aa.

The invention also contemplates use of the lengths or blocks 24xx of the strip material in making bodies of toy building bricks and the like and marketing such toy building bricks in kits. A kit for this purpose is illustrated in FIG. 14 and designated generally at 70. The kit includes a box-like shallow body 72 open at the top and adapted to be closed by a lid or cover 74 of similar shape to the box-like bodyfThe cover may bear identifying indicia 76. The contents of the kit includes a plurality of stacked lengths or blocks 24xx, several containers 78 of cement mix, and a chart 8t) entitled Plan a Ranch House. With the material of the kit, various educational toy devices may be readily made, for example, the gable roof 82 of a ranch house, a cross 84, L-shaped member 86, a ring member 88, and elongated angular member 90, rectangular shaped member 92 and the like.

A modified form of building unit is shown in disassembled relation in FIG. 15. This form of unit includes three lengths or blocks 24mm, an intermediate length 24mm with teeth 16mm extending from both sides thereof adapted to mesh with the teeth 16aaa on a length or block 24mm on the other side thereof. A number of the teeth 16am: on one side of the intermediate length or block 24mm is cut away and a number of teeth 16aaa on an adjacent side length or block in opposed relation to the cutaway teeth 16am: is cut away, thereby providing a space or clearance 94 for a duct or pipe if needed.

Yet another modified form of strip 10xxx of material for making lengths or blocks 24xxx for use at corners is shown in FIG. 16. Blocks or lengths cut from the strip 10xxx are shown in FIG. 17 applied to the corner formed by a joist 96. The strip 10xxx is formed with a series of closed aligned slots 98 along its body portion 12xxx centrally thereof. These slots make the body of the strip more flexible, permitting the body of the block to be bent at right angles to accommodate the joist 96. The strip' 10xxx is readily torn in half lengthwise as shown in FIG. 18 thereby makingit more flexible for any particular purpose.

In FIG. 19, lengths or blocks 24a are shown as covers 100 for books 102. When so used, the body portions of the lengths or blocks are pasted against and on the outer cardboard plates or sheets at the front and back of the books whereby the projections 16a project outwardly. Books with such covers may be stacked one upon another without danger of the books becoming displaced or falling off.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

1. A building unit comprising a body composed of a pair of blocks disposed in opposed relation, each block including a flat body of flexible plastic with one surface thereof being smooth and with pointed projections on the other surface thereof, the projections being intermeshed, and concrete in the interstices between the projections, the body being formed with a series of closely spaced closed aligned slots to facilitate longitudinal bending of the body and to permit longitudinal tearing of the body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 93,789 8/1869 Worth 52-222 756,622 4/ 1904 Gore 52-599 919,018 4/1909 Jackson 52-599 1,052,788 2/ 1913 Bates 52-425 1,759,976 5/1930 Cummings 161-53 1,956,354 4/1934 Junkers 52-425 2,157,992 5/ 1939 Smith 52-427 3,008,273 11/1961 Widin 52-85 FOREIGN PATENTS 297,841 10/ 1965 Netherlands.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner. JAMES L. RIDGILL, Assistant Examiner. 

